Agenda item

To report to the Scrutiny Committee on the performance of the Housing and Property Department.

To accept the report.

The report was submitted by the Cabinet Member for Housing and Property, Head of Housing and Property Department and the Assistant Heads of Department.

It was reported that the Department implemented the Council Plan 2023-2028, and on the progress to the end of April 2025. It was noted that there had been progress against the milestones set for the Department's projects within A Homely Gwynedd and An Efficient Gwynedd improvement priorities. It was reported that the overall progress was good, with several milestones reached by the end of the financial year, and that being under challenging circumstances.

During the discussion, the following observations were submitted by the Members:

Attention was drawn to the 'One-Stop Shop' plan and the member noted that he was disappointed with the progress in the plan. Explanation was asked about the reason why this plan had taken such a long time to be implemented. It was acknowledged that there had been a delay in implementing this plan, but it was explained that he was happy to announce that the shop would open on 15 September.

It was noted that the report was very good and comprehensive. However, it was noted that there was concern with the number of homeless people who lived in an unsuitable accommodation in Gwynedd. It was asked what the plan was to improve these statistics. It was explained that they were developing plans to address this problem with sites currently being built. It was noted that major developments were currently being built in Caernarfon and Bangor. It was hoped that these buildings would be ready to open soon. In terms of clarity, it was explained that there were currently over 200 people in emergency accommodation, with the figure increasing to over 400 when including the houses on lease.

A question was asked regarding the Gwynedd connection, the people who did not currently live in Gwynedd, specifically how many of these people were able to claim a connection with Gwynedd and get a Council house. It was explained that 97% of Gwynedd social housing went to people with a connection to Gwynedd and, in addition, 60% went to people who wished to live in the ward in which they wanted to live. Additionally, it was reported that the Housing Associations had conducted a recent survey of the last 9 developments that they had completed, and it was discovered that 90% of the people who had moved to these social houses spoke Welsh.

The department was praised for the number of plans which attempted to address the serious problems of housing needs in Gwynedd. Attention was drawn to the milestones set to attract 20 additional properties to the Leasing Wales Scheme - Gwynedd, but only 12 had been attracted, asking what problems caused this. It was explained that interest in this plan had started to fade and therefore the department intended to make a significant campaign to raise the interest once again. It was noted that it was a special plan which met many empty housing needs.

Attention was drawn to Property 5 of the Compliance Unit, noting that the number of completed buildings had fallen and continued to fall. It was accepted that a new Officer had been appointed and was not trained yet, but concern was expressed with the work being completed. It was explained that the number had reduced due to many different factors, but the department was on the right track to train again and change responsibilities within the team which would mean conducting more condition investigations. It was noted that she was confident that the officer would address this problem.

It was noted, in terms of increasing housing supply for local people, that it was welcomed that the department had purchased more that were targeted with the figure being 46. However, there were only 16 with tenants in them. It was asked what the most common reason was that so many of these houses were still empty. It was explained that they had focused on purchasing the houses at the start of the plan as there was a timetable on being able to spend the grant funding received. It was mentioned that 16 had been let, 20 were being repaired and 10 were ready to be let. Furthermore, it was estimated that 53 had been let within the year. It was hoped that a significant increase would be seen in the number of houses let this year.

DECISION

To accept the report.